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Braiding with Paracord - Some Popular Basic Weaves

By Matt Hawkins

Many people that want to wear a paracord belt prefer to braid their own rather than purchase a paracord belt from a store. If this describes you, there is some good news: paracord braiding is probably easier than you think. It can also be fun and provide a lot of satisfaction to make your own paracord belt or other paracord accessory item.

For a belt using a cobra braid, for instance, you will want between about 50 and 70 feet of paracord depending on your waist size. For a smaller item like a bracelet, around 15 feet should be sufficient.

For a more typical weave, somewhat shorter lengths should suffice (also depending on belt or bracelet width). In general, a good rule of thumb is to order or cut off a bit more paracord than you think you’ll need just in case.

A Typical Braid Pattern

For those just getting started with paracord braiding who are looking for a simple first project, it is best to start with a typical braid pattern. For best results, find some objects that you can wrap each end of the paracord around while braiding to make sure it’s taut, such as posts or poles in the ground or nails in a workbench.

Depending on the width of belt, bracelet, or other accessory you intend to make, wrap at least 3-4 loops of paracord around the two fixed posts or similar objects. Then, simply weave one end of the paracord vertically over and under the horizontal strands in alternating fashion. After each pass, be sure to push the weave tight before continuing.
Once the braid reaches the end of the horizontal strands, carefully remove the posts securing each end of the strands and then pass the end of paracord through the same set of loops. Then, either tie the end off to itself or to the final loop. See how simple that was?

The Cobra Weave

A slightly more advanced yet still fairly straightforward braiding pattern is known as the cobra weave. This pattern is commonly used on paracord survival belts.

With the cobra weave, it is not necessary to secure each end of the paracord as in the typical weave just described. However, you will need a fairly long length of paracord, folded in the middle, and preferably with each end coiled up to make the weaving process faster. Otherwise, you will have to pass many feet of rope over and under each other, and this can get tedious and tiring after a while.

To start, take the left end of the paracord and pass it under the central strands. Then, take the right end and pass it under the left end, over the central strands, and through the loop formed by the left end. Pull out the slack and repeat this process, starting with the right end of the cord.

Next, using your fingers, widen the two small loops at the stop of the weave. These loops will allow you to tighten the accessory once it is finished. Then, repeat the alternating pattern of left- and right-sided loops as before until you have reached your desired length.

At this point, simply insert the ends of the cord through the loops you widened earlier and tie them off into a knot, making sure the knot is placed at the desired length. All that remains is to cut off the strands sticking out of the knot, burn off the frayed ends, and pull the knot through the loop formed by the central strands to secure and tighten the item. Congratulations! You’ve just mastered the cobra weave.